Pinellas Community Foundation operating grants are unrestricted. They cover the core costs that keep programs running and communities supported: staffing, rent, supplies, outreach, and infrastructure.
Submit a Letter of Intent when the window opens. Invited organizations then complete the full application. Late submissions are not accepted.
The details below come from the 2026–27 cycle. Any changes to the 2028–29 process will be communicated when the application window opens in 2027. Review the FAQs before reaching out.
Organizations providing direct services or focused on arts and culture are eligible. Many nonprofits deliver a blend of services that does not fit one category. If you are unsure which track fits your work, reach out and the PCF grants team will help.
Fiscally sponsored organizations may apply, provided the fiscal sponsor does not also submit a funding request.
Has 501(c)(3) public charity status under the IRS code, and has had it for one calendar year at the time of application
Has a physical presence in Pinellas County
Will spend awarded funds only within Pinellas County
Fits within the focus areas identified by the PCF Board of Governors (see funding priorities)
Is a direct service provider or an arts and culture organization
Has been operational and providing direct services or programs in Pinellas County for at least one year before applying
Hospitals
Schools and school-affiliated groups, including colleges, universities, and booster clubs
Vocal and musical ensembles
Animal welfare and environmental organizations
Houses of worship
Governments
Continuing care retirement communities
Private foundations and grantmaking foundations (if your organization files a Form 990-PF, it is ineligible)
The PCF Board of Governors has identified four core areas as priorities in its discretionary grantmaking. Your work should fit within one of them.
The application is shared across both tracks, with tailored questions for each type of programming. Each track is further segmented for small and large organizations. By supporting direct service and arts and culture organizations, PCF invests in the full spectrum of what makes a community thrive.
Your organization fits here if its programming resolves individual and community needs, or betters the community, through direct services.
Examples: food banks, nonprofit behavioral health providers, free health clinics, and literacy programming.
Your organization fits here if its programming encourages clients to create original works of creative expression, fosters local appreciation of the arts, or educates audiences on specific types of creative work.
Examples: museums, arts education programming, nonprofit performing arts venues, and arts alliances.
Festival organizers must have a year-round presence, the arts as their primary purpose, spend most of their budget on arts activities, hire professional artists, and run education and outreach. PCF does not intend to fund arts organizations whose primary programming is a single event or festival.
Request amounts are based on the size of the operating budget that serves Pinellas County, excluding major one-time or non-routine capital expenditures.
Organizations with budgets of less than $500,000 may seek up to $15,000 per year.
Organizations with budgets between $500,000 and $2,500,000 may seek up to $20,000 per year.
Organizations with budgets greater than $2,500,000 may seek up to $25,000 per year.
Operating grants are extremely competitive. Your organization may not receive its full request.
The process is designed for accessibility and transparency. Complete both the Letter of Intent (LOI) and the full application early. Late submissions are not accepted.
The grant portal opens in a new tab. The 2028–29 application timeline will be available mid-2027.
Open the grant portal when the window opens and submit your LOI. During the LOI window, PCF staff are available only for technology-related support.
Webinar dates are announced when the window opens. Once the full application window opens, support includes a walkthrough webinar and live office hours with the PCF grants team.
Invited organizations include a client impact story, financial documents (such as a Form 990 and audit, if available), board details, and demographic information.
If you are not invited to move forward, the PCF grants team will offer to review your LOI and give feedback.
PCF communicates with applicants by email through the grant portal. Keep a monitored address on your account and check your spam filter at least weekly during the process.
PCF’s internal team reviews Letters of Intent for eligibility, alignment with the funding priorities, and clarity of community impact. Members of the PCF Board of Governors chair the full application review committees, joined by community volunteers.
Letters of Intent are evaluated by the strength of organizational programming and outcomes. Full applications are evaluated on:
PCF uses a storytelling application to understand who you serve and how. Show your clients’ challenges and your organization’s role in helping.
Strong leadership, clear and measurable outcomes, and a reasonable plan to carry out your mission. Internal data or research can show your impact.
Your request must clearly support services delivered in Pinellas County, and explain which programs or services will benefit.
A reasonable, cost-sensitive budget with achievable outcomes that shows all funding sources. Explain any budget variances.
Letters of Intent are evaluated by a clearly defined audience and the strength of outreach to that audience. Full applications are evaluated on:
Help PCF understand your mission and how you support arts and culture in Pinellas County.
Strong leadership and engagement in the local artistic community. Internal data or research can show your impact.
Your request must clearly support arts programming delivered in Pinellas County, and explain which programs will benefit.
A reasonable, cost-sensitive budget with achievable outcomes that shows all funding sources. Explain any budget variances.
PCF values the chance to highlight the work of its grantees and the impact of PCF funding on the community. Any deviation from these conditions must be agreed in writing before the Letter of Intent window closes. Missing them may affect your organization’s future applications for all PCF funding.
Complete two reports during the grant period, with internal data and photos from the supported programs or services
Credit PCF with the most recent logo on your website, linked to pinellascf.org, and on collateral, letterhead, and other marketing material that features sponsors
Allow PCF to visit your board of directors about partnerships and further opportunities
Give up to three PCF board members or staff a tour of your facilities during the grant period
These resources were created for the 2026–27 operating grant cycle and remain for reference. New resources will be provided for the 2028–29 cycle.
PCF keeps updating these as new questions come in. Review them before reaching out. If your question is not answered here or in a webinar, contact the grants team. It may help others and be added to this list.
We’re here to help. If you’re not sure where to start, use the form below to connect with our team. We’re happy to answer your questions and help you explore the best opportunities for your organization.
Prefer another way to reach PCF? Visit the Contact page.
Sign out, clear your browser cache, and sign back in. If you still have trouble signing in or the error persists, describe what you see and send it to the PCF grants team through the question form on this page.
If the LOI or full application window is still open, PCF can revert your submission to draft. Send the request through the question form for the fastest response.
PCF uses the grant portal to email applicants directly. Make sure the address on your account is monitored, add ad***********@************ce.com to your organization’s safe list, and check your spam filter at least weekly during the process. Replies to system emails go straight to the grants inbox.
PCF wants to know your organization is embedded in Pinellas County. A physical presence might be a traditional office, a shared working location, or a dedicated resource space where clients know they can reach you. If you are concerned about eligibility, send the team details about your space through the question form.
Technically yes, but PCF needs any overdue reports as soon as possible. Review your reports in the grant portal and contact the grants team if any is overdue. If you have not yet acknowledged PCF on your website, ask for the current logo and branding guidelines.
Include the PCF logo on your website, linked to pinellascf.org, and mention PCF in any marketing that recognizes sponsors or supporters.
See every PCF grant opportunity and its window status.
Endowment, reserve and capital campaign funds that help nonprofits plan beyond a single grant.
The organizations PCF has funded across Pinellas County.
